Protective pad and method of forming the same



Aug. 28, 1962 F. L. MIKESELL 3,050,746

PROTECTIVE PAD AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed April 28, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

PROTECTIVE PAD AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed April 28, 1961 Aug.28, 1962 F. 1.. MIKESELL 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 19523,059,746 PROTECIIVE PAD AND WTHGD OF FORMING THE SAME Floyd L.Mikesell, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Nissen Corporation, CedarRapids, Iowa Filed Apr. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 106,343 6 Claims. (Cl. -317)This invention relates generally to pads for covering hard surfaces andprotecting persons from injury due to impact with such surfaces. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a pad adapted to protect aperformer on gymnastic apparatus and including a body of yieldable orresilient material mounted on the apparatus through the medium of one ormore brackets secured to the body.

The primary object of' the present invention is to provide a protectivepad of the above character in which the mounting bracket and resilientbody are secured together in a novel manner to withstand the hard usageof repeated impacts of performers while insuring that no parts projectbeyond the exterior of the body to injur the performers.

Another object is to secure the mounting bracket to the body in a simpleand inexpensive manner using a headed fastening element such as a rivetwhile avoiding projection of the rivet exteriorly of the body.

A more retailed object is to reinforce the resilient body by a strip ofreinforcing material arranged in a novel manner with respect to the bodyto avoid tearing of the material by a headed fastener while insuringthat the fastener is disposed within the exterior surface of the body.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of positioning thereinforcing material in the resilient body so as to achieve a desiredreinforcing action easily and at low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of gymnasticapparatus equipped with protective pads embodying the novel features ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pad partially broken away and shown insection;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the pad;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in PEG. 2and showing the pad mounted on the frame of gymnastic apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is' a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4 and showing a modifiedconstruction.

Protective pads 9 made in accordance with the present invention areespecially suited for covering exposed hard surfaces of gymnasticapparatus to avoid injury to performers resulting from impact with suchsurfaces. The gymnastic apparatus shown in the drawings (FIG. 1) is arebound tumbling unit 10 having a rigid rectangular metal frame 11supported in horizontal position on leg structures 12 located under theframe. Suspended Within the frame by elongated resilient members such ascoiled contractile springs 13 is a horizontal bed 14 which supports theperformer and provides a landing surface as Well as transfer to him theforce of the springs to effect the desired rebound action. While the bedmay be formed of interwoven strips of fabric sewn together as is wellknown in the art, it is shown in this instance as a multiple layercanvas sheet of nylon or other suitable fabric. The frame also may takevarious forms, that shown in the drawings being made of steel tubing ofoval cross sec.

tion (see FIG. 4) elongated horizontally to provide generally flathorhcontal upper and lower surfaces.

2 The surface of the rebound tumbling unit It? to be covered by one ormore of the protective pads 9 is the upper horizontal surface of theframe 11, such surface being exposed and subject to impact by theperformer should he land improperly. Where, as here, such surface iselongated, each protective pad similarly is elongated. Herein, there aresix pads, one covering each end of the frame and two arranged end to endon each side of the frame.

in general, each protective pad 9 comprises a body 15 of yieldable orresilient material and one or more mounting brackets 16 secured to thebody and adapted to fit re-- leasably over parts of the frame 11 to becovered by the pad. in this instance, where the pad is elongated, thebody similarly is elongated and preferably is of generally rectangularshape with flat exterior surfaces 17 and 18 facing in oppositedirections and away from each other. There are four mounting brackets 16spaced along the length of each pad and each is adapted to fitreleasably over the top of the covered frame section. Preferably, aresilient material is utilized for the body, sponge rubber orpolyethylene foam having been found especially suitable. It also hasbeen found desirable to cover the exterior of the body with a sheet 19of weather resistant fabric such as a knit cotton sheet covered with avinyl plastic.

Herein, each mounting bracket 16 is formed of a flat strip of resilientmetal bent to form an inverted U having spaced leg portions 29 whichhook around the longitudinal sides edges of the frame. Connecting thelegs is a generally fiat intermediate portion 2-1 adapted to lie againstthe upper horizontal frame surface when the legs hook around the frameedges. Each bracket-is secured to the resilient body by one or moreheaded fastening elements suchas rivets 22 which are inexpensive andeasy to manipulate. Herein, two rivets secure each mounting bracket tothe resilient body and each rivet has a shank 23 with an enlarged head24 at one end engaging the body. The shank extends through a hole 34 inthe intermediate portion 21 of the bracket and the other Y end 25 of therivet is upset against the underside of the intermediate portion 21 andfits in a recess 26 formed in such portion to enable the remainder ofthe portion to lie against the frame. To provide clearance to receiveparts (not shown) welded to the inner edge of the frame fo-r'connectionto the springs 13, one leg 20 of each bracket is recessed as indicatedat 27. i

In accordance with the present invention, the resilient body 15 isreinforced in a novel manner to avoid tearing by. the rivets 22 Whileinsuring that the rivets remain beneaththe upper exterior surface 17 ofthe body to avoid contact by the performer. To these ends, the rivetsare made shorter than the depth of the resilient body between theoppositely facing upper and lower surfaces 17 and 18 so that the body iscompressed between the mounting bracket 16 and the enlarged head 24 onthe end of each rivet opposite the bracket. Also, the resilient body isstrengthened by a strip 28 of reinforcing material. This strip islocated between the exterior surfaces 17 and 18 so that, duringcompression of the resilient body in securing the bracket to the body, arecess 29 is formed in the body for the head and the head is spaced fromthe upper surface of the body. While the reinforcing strip may bepositioned between the exterior surfaces of the body during formationofthe body, the construction is simplified and the cost is reduced bycutting a horizontal slit 3ft in the body and inserting the stripedgewise into the slit after the body is formed. The reinforcing strip28 in this instance is a piece of a woven cotton or nylon sheet coatedwith a suitable resin which acts as a stifiener. With two or more rivets'22 as shown for each bracket 16, the reinforcing strip not onlyprevents the heads 24 of the rivets from tearing through the resilientmaterial, but also, divides the pressure exerted on the pad between thetwo rivets.

The cover sheet 19 is generally rectangular and is folded'centrallyalong its length to enclose the resilient body-15. In' apreferredconstruction shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the lower layer of the cover isclamped between the mounting bracket 16 and the underside 18 of theresilient body as an incident to securing the bracket tothebody. In amodified construction shown in FIG.

5, the brackets are secured to the body first and then the legs of thebrackets are inserited through parallel slits 38 cut in the cover. Inboth instances, the cover is partially formed before the body isinserted. In such partial formation, the end portions 31 of the sheetare folded back and sewn to the sheet after which the sheet above, adesired length of resilient material 15 is cut from an elongated roll ofsuch material available commercially, Next, the slitsStl are cut in theresilientbody at the placeswhere mounting brackets 16 are desired, theslits in this instance paralleling and being spaced equal distances fromthe oppositely facing exterior sides 17 and 18 of thebody and extendingin- "wardly from one edge of the body approximately halfway across itswidth. The reinforcing strips 28 then are inserted ,edgewise into theslits-as shown in FIG. 3.

Where, asin the preferred construction of FIG. 4, the cover 19 issecured tothe resilient body 15 by the rivets '22, the .slitted bodywith the reinforcing strips 28 in the slits 30 is insertedv edgewiseinto the cover through the opening extending along the length of thecover between the sewn ends. Then, theflat connecting portion 2 1 ofeach mounting bracket is placed on a horizontal supporting surface ofriveting apparatus well known in the art and the body with the coverthereon is placed over. the flat portion of. the bracket with the.rein-forcing stripv and the bracket portion in registry. ,Finally, theupper half of the cover is pulled back to provide clearance for theriveting apparatus and the apparatus is actuated to drive the shanks 23of the tworivets through the resilient body, the reinforcing strip, thelower half of the cover, and the mounting bracket holes 34 and to upsetthe. lower ends 25 of the rivets thereby compressing the resilient bodybetween the bracket and the enlarged heads 24 on the rivets. In thisoperation, due to the presence of the reinforcing strip 28, the enlargedheads on the rivets are permitted to sink into the'resilient material,form the recesses 29 and space the heads from the upper surface 17 ofthe, resilient body without tearing thebody. I 7

Once the riveting operation has been completed on all mounting brackets16tobe secured to the resilient body 15, the longitudinal edge portions35 of the cover are folded inwardly and back against the sheet and aresewn together as indicated at 36 in FIGS. 2 and 4. .Then, the upper andlower. halves of the cover 19 are sewed together longitudinally along aline 37 spaced inwardly from the folded edge portions.

Injthe modified construction of FIG. 5, where thecover' 19 is assembledto the body 15 after the brackets 16 are riveted to the body, the bodywiththe" attached brackets is simply inserted between the cover halvesand the legs 2Q of ,the brackets are projected through the cover-slits38. Following this, the pad is completed as in. the preferredconstruction by folding and sewing the longitudinal portions of thecover sheet.

It will be iaparent that the reinforcing. strip 28 1 strengthensthe'resilientmaterial 15- to prevent the material from being torn by therivets not only during the riveting operation, but also during impact'ofthepad 9 after it is mounted on the frame 11. Due to the location of thestrip at a point spaced from the top surface 17 of the resilient body,and with the rivets of shorter length than the spacing between the topsurface and the underside 18 of the body, the enlarged heads 24 of therivets are spaced inwardly a substantial distance beneath the top of thebody. Contact of the rivets by the per- 1 formerthus is avoided. Theseadvantageous results are achieved easily and at low cost by cutting theslits '30 in the resilient body and inserting the reinforcing strips 28therein after the body is formed, this method ofpositioning thereinforcing strips making it possible. to 7 use commercially availableresilient material.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, I have illustrated in the drawings anddescribed herein the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood,however, that I do not intend thereby to limit the invention by suchdisclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative con-'structions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A protective'pad comprising in combination, a body of yieldablematerial having spaced first and second exterior surfaces facing inopposite directions and away from each other, said body having a slitdisposedbe. tween and spaced from both of said surface s, a flat stripof reinforcing material disposed in said slit, a mounting bracket havinga generally flat portion extending along and adjacent said first one ofsaid surfaces in registry with said strip, and two elongated headedfastening eleversely' ofsaid exterior surfaces to secure such partsments extending through said .flat portion of said mounting bracket andhaving shorter lengths than the spacing between said surfaces, saidstrip and said'body in a direction transversely of said exteriorsurfaces and at spaced points to secure such parts together with thebody compressed between the mounting bracket and enlarged heads on theends of the elements remote from the bracket,

said heads being disposed within spaced recesses in said second surfaceresulting from compression ofthe body.

2. A protective pad comprising, in combination, a body of yieldablematerial having spaced first and second exterior surfaces facing inopposite directions and away from each other, said body having a slitdisposed between and spaced fromvboth of said surfaces, a flat strip ofreinforcing material disposed in saidslit, a mounting bracket having agenerally flat portion extending along and adjacent said first one ofsaid surfaces in registry with said strip, and at least-one headedfastening element shorter than the spacing betweensaid surfaces and ex-.tending through said'fiat portion of said mounting bracket, said stripand said body in a'direction transtogether with the body compressedbetween the mounting bracket and an enlarged head on the endof theelement. remote from the bracket, said head being disposed in a,

recess in said second surface resulting from compression of the body. tI

3. A protective pad comprising, in combination, a-body of yieldablematerial havingspaced first and second .ex

terior surfaces facing in oppositefdirections and flaway and adjacentsaid first'one of said surfaces in registry with said strip, and twoheaded fastening elements extending through said flat' portion of saidmounting bracket, said strip-and said bodyin a direction trans;

versely of said exterior surfaces and at spaced points to, z. securesuch parts together with the body compressed between the mountingbracket and enlarged heads on "the ends of the elements remote from thebracket, s'aidheads being disposed in spaced recesses in said secondsurface resulting from compression of the body.

4. A protective pad comprising, in combination, a body of yieldablematerial having spaced first and second eX- terior surfaces facing inopposite directions and away from each other, said body having a slitdisposed between and spaced from both of said surfaces, a flat strip ofreinforcing material disposed in said slit, a mounting bracket having agenerally flat portion extending along and adjacent said first one ofsaid surfaces in registry with said strip, and at least one headedfastening element extending through said flat portion of said mountingbracket, said strip and said body in a direction transversely of saidexterior surfaces to secure such parts together with the body compressedbetween the mounting bracket and an enlarged head on the end of theelement remote from the bracket, said head being disposed in a recess insaid second surface resulting from compression of the body.

5. In a method of forming a protective pad having a mounting bracketwith a generally flat portion secured against a first one of two spacedoppositely facing exterior surfaces on a body of yieldable material, thesteps of cutting said body to form a slit disposed between and spacedfrom said two spaced exterior surfaces of the body, inserting a flatstrip of reinforcing material in the slit, positioning said fiat portionadjacent said first of said two oppositely facing surfaces and inregistry with said strip, projecting an elongated headed fasteningelement through said fiat portion of said bracket, said strip and saidbody in a direction transversely of said surfaces to compress the bodyand the strip together between a head on the element and the bracket,and, simultaneously with such projection, forming a recess in the othersurfaces of the body to receive the head.

6. In a method of forming a protective pad having a mounting bracketsecured against a first one of two oppositely facing surfaces on theexterior of a body of yieldable material, the steps of positioning saidbracket adjacent said first surface and in registry with a strip ofreinforcing material disposed within the body in a position spaced fromand between the surfaces, projecting an elongated headed fasteningelement through said flat portion of said bracket, said strip and saidbody in a direction transversely of said surfaces to compress the bodyand the strip together between a head on the ele ment and the bracket,and, simultaneously with such projection, forming a recess in the othersurfaces of the body to receive the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS336,514 Ensling Feb. 16, 1886 1,727,982 Jacobs Sept. 10, 1929 2,799,867Fenner July 23, 1957 2,837,145 Goetz June 3, 1958

